Reviews – Last Summer at Bluefish Cove

The admirable Studio Theatre in Salisbury continues to enhance its reputation for making first rate amateur theatre with its latest thought-provoking offering of Last Summer At Bluefish Cove by celebrated American playwright, Jane Chambers. First performed in New York in 1980, Last Summer at Bluefish Cove broke new ground by being the first mainstream play to deal with the, then taboo, subject of lesbian relationships at a time when homophobia was commonplace.

Set in the 1980s, the play concerns the enduring friendships and intriguing life stories of seven lesbian women: Lil, Dr Kitty, Annie, Rita, Rae, Sue, and Donna. They spend their annual holidays at Bluefish Cove, an idyllic haven where gay women can be free of the hostilities and conflict they daily encounter because of their sexuality. The holiday is disrupted by unwitting Eva, a housewife separated from her husband, who is looking to make a fresh start in life. Lil feels an immediate attraction for Eva, who misunderstands Lil’s flirting as friendliness. Eva is flattered by Lil’s attention and is delighted to accept her invitation to a party that evening – an event which turns out to be extremely awkward for everyone, but one which provides the catalyst for Eva to discover her own true self and to fall for Lil…

The story is propelled by a powerful and wonderfully written script, which, when coupled with good acting performances, as in this instance, instantly engenders an immersive connection to all of the characters from the first to the very last scene. The dialogue is at times raucous yet subtle and gentle; and fully demonstrates the universality of life experiences: fun, love, pain and loss; regardless of one’s sexuality.

Lil is played by Sophie Townsend, who is totally believable in the role. Her anguished performance in the second act of the play is especially good and provokes a strong emotional response from onlookers, as she deals with newfound love and recurrence of an illness. Eva is played by George Cotterill, and is equally convincing in this role. With sensitive understanding and compassion for the part, she transforms an unloved, demur and naïve Eva into a confident and ebullient woman with all of the world before her.

The two lead roles are supported by six other actors: Lynette Barnes, Clare Green, Roz Skellorn, Shantell Braschler, Nikki Shepherd, and Antonia Harding. All have prominent parts and all are similarly first rate – performing with skill, composure and confidence. It wouldn’t be right to single out any one of the supporting actors for particular praise because they work as a fine-tuned ensemble and together create a polished performance, which presents each of their characters as a realistic, likeable and well-rounded person.

This is one of the best plays we’ve seen, and over the years we have seen many. It is a thoughtful, provocative and entertaining cocktail which is emotionally stimulating and rewarding. The songs by K D Lang also provide a perfect soundtrack. It is a great success for Director Phillipa Crundwell and her support crew.

Mention must be made of the impressive stage set, which features an open-plan beach cabin on raised decking, a sandy beach and rippling sea water. Certainly, good enough to grace the stage of a professional production.

https://sceneoneplus.com/last-summer-at-bluefish-cove/

Chris Hawley of UK Theatre Network had this to say about our October 2023 production of Last Summer at Bluefish Cove

Once again, Studio Theatre brings us another fascinating play as part of their eclectic 2023 season, showing us that community theatre isn’t just about putting on Noel Coward and Alan Aykbourn. 

The Last Summer at Bluefish Cove tells the stories of a group of disparate women who spend their summers in a little enclave by the sea which has become their safe haven in a world that isn’t fully accepting of the LGBTQ+ community.

Although very much an ensemble piece the main thrust of the play is the growing relationship between long term resident Lil, beautifully portrayed by Sophie Townsend, and newly divorced Eva, again played with skill and compassion by George Cotterill.  Lil, and the group, has a secret they’re not wanting to tell Eva whilst Eva embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will open her eyes to a whole new world of love and friendship. How will she fit in with this group of fabulous outsiders and how will these women’s lives be profoundly affected by the summer’s events?

This play was first produced in 1980 at the Shandol Theatre in New York City and went on to run for two and a half years to sell out audiences at the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood. We’re now quite used to seeing stories portraying the struggles endured by gay men, but this was the first recorded play to depict contemporary queer women in a positive light and still remains one of only a few LGBTQ+ plays that focuses on the stories of its female characters.

After nearly 45 years, the script is perhaps a little creaky and cliched in parts and there’s no doubt the themes it deals with have subsequently been explored in more depth and with more power in other plays, but one must remember that in its day this was a truly ground-breaking piece of work.  Even after all those years, it still effectively explores the issues of rejection, isolation, acceptance, friendship and love which, of course are as relevant today as they’ve always been and although perhaps not as shocking as it once was, is undoubtedly, an important watershed moment in the storytelling of the LGBTQ+ community.

This was, for the most part, a wonderful production; however, it didn’t always quite hit the mark.  Some of the staging was a little clumsy at times; the transitions, especially, interrupting the natural flow of the story.  And although very much an ensemble piece there were a couple of uneven performances with actors perhaps hampered in the full realisation of their characters by attempting an American accent.  That said, their stories were well told and we warmed to all of those remarkable women; laughing and crying with them as their lives unfolded before us. 

And, of course, as we’ve come to expect from Studio, the set was a masterpiece giving us a sandy shoreline, lapping waves (no, really!) and an authentic interior of a beach cabin.  And if you love KD Lang, like I do, you’ll enjoy the choice of music which perfectly complimented this exploration of love and loss.  Hats off, once again to the team who created such a magnificent setting for this extraordinary play and to the whole company for a marvellous production. You did it again!

These stories are an important part of our collective consciousness and historically important and I’m so glad Studio isn’t afraid to stage a play of this nature as part of their growing canon of recent work. I’d highly recommend a visit to see this wonderfully warm-hearted and life affirming play.

As a contrast, Studio’s next offering is The Flint Street Nativity (December 4th to 9th).  I can’t wait.

3 Stars

https://uktheatre.mn.co/posts/last-summer-at-bluefish-cove

Christine Stock of Salisbury Journal

A landmark piece in lesbian dramatic literature, focusing on the friendships and journeys of eight women, is beautifully and sympathetically performed by Studio Theatre, Salisbury.

Jane Chambers’ groundbreaking play, Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, is set in Long Island, New York, in 1980 – a time when homophobia is still rife in the USA.

Having just left her husband of 12 years, Eva (played by George Cotterill) arrives at Bluefish Cove looking for a new start. She wants to make new friends and become a feminist. What she doesn’t know is that this resort is occupied by a group of lesbian friends who come here to escape their normal lives to spend summers together and be themselves.

Caring but naive Eva soon meets proficient fisher Lil, the only other singleton along the beach. Sophie Townsend is endearing as the sarcastic and witty Lil, who has terminal cancer, but is keeping the diagnosis close to her chest.

Her friend and former lover Kitty (Clare Green) has left her gynaecologist job to become a full-time writer of feminist books. A force to be reckoned with in any situation, Kitty is terrified of being publicly outed, and worries that Eva’s arrival at Bluefish Cove might expose her. Rita (Roz Skellorn) is Kitty’s wide-eyed and level-headed secretary and lover.

Annie (Lynnette Barnes) is a strong, plucky sculptor and Lil’s oldest friend. Her partner Rae left her husband and 2 kids to be with Annie. Rae (played by Shantell Braschler) is the homemaker of the bunch.

Sue (Nikki Shepherd) is a wealthy and weathered blueblood, involved with the much younger Donna (Antonia Harding), a gold digger who is obsessed with Lil.

Last Summer at Bluefish Cove was one of the first pieces of theatre to present lesbians in a positive or neutral light. The comedy dialogue, sensitivity to human nature, and tender treatment of characters help the play transcend preconceptions and show the universality of these women’s journeys, whether straight or lesbian.

Director Philippa Crundwell said she wanted to redress the lack of queer representation growing up. She has successfully done that by putting on the first LGBTQ+ play in Studio Theatre’s 70-year history.

Prompts were barely needed and first night nerves didn’t show from this consummately professional cast, who made good use of the small but realistic seaside set, which focuses around Lil’s cabin with sand and flowing water around a fishing rock.

The pure, plaintive mezzo-soprano tones of KD Lang divide scenes beautifully.

Though dark in places, this witty and emotional piece of theatre had the audience laughing out loud A LOT.

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/23829706.studio-theatres-fabulous-portrayal-seminal-lesbian-play/